Resonator pad for musical instruments



Aug. 11, 1942. A. PAGE 2,292,767

RESONATOR PAD FOR MUSIGA L INSTRUMENTS Filed March 18, 1941 v ip 32 35 ,CD 1] l 5 INVENTOR 1 715.6??? PAGE haze) ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 11, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RESONATOR PAD FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Claims.

This invention relates to resonator pads for musical instruments of the wood-wind type, such as saxophones, clarinets, flutes and the like instruments. It is particularly directed to an improvement in resonator pads or valves which close the tone holes in such instruments.

An object of this invention is to provide a highly improved compact and durable valve of the character described, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which shall positively close the valve seat, and which shall yet be practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the fea-- tures of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be in dicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a transverse cross-sectional View through the tone hole of a musical instrument, and valve closing the same, embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the valve;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. l, but illustrating a modified construction;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the valve shown in Fig 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a resonator pad or valve embodying the invention,

and illustrating a still further modified construction; and

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5, and illustrating yet another modified form of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, Ii designates a musical instrument of the wood-wind type such as a saxophone, clarinet, flute, oboe, bassoon, Or the like instrument.

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view through the stack of such instrument showing part of the annular wall ll of the stack, and extending from the wall II is a radial cylindrical wall [2 forming a tone hole adapted to be closed by a valve or resonator pad [4 embodying the invention.

The resonator pad or valve I4 may be actuated by the usual levers, the present invention being directed to the construction of the valve itself. Said valve l4 comprises an annular metallic disc formed on its underside with an annular groove 16 having a fiat bottom surface.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the disc l5 is formed with an annular flange or skirt ll forming the outer wall of the groove I6, and with a central portion 13 concentric with respect to the flange I! having an outer cylindrical surface I9 forming the inner wall of the recess l6.

Within the recess I6 is an annular washer 20 made of leather or any other suitable material, preferably adhered to the bottom surface of the recess it by any suitable adhesive indicated in the drawing by numeral 2|. The Washer 20 is preferably of less height than the height of the flange I! so that it is entirely within the groove. Said washer 23 contacts the upper edge 12a of the valve seat [2.

It will be noted that the diameter of the valve seat I2 is such that the valve seat contacts the mid portion of the leather washer 20.

In Fig. 3 there is shown a stack ll of a mu sical instrument, likewise provided with a valve seat 12. In said figure, there is shown a valve 14a to close said valve seat. The valve [4a comprises a cup-shaped member 30 having a top wall 3| and an annular cylindrical flange 32. Received within said cup-shaped member 30,.is a metal disc 33 attached to the cup-shaped member 30 in any suitable manner.

The disc 33 likewise has an annular circular flange 35, and is formed with an annular recess 36 and with a central boss 37. Within the recess 36 is a leather washer 38, similar to the washer 20, and similarly attached within the rim of the recess and contacting the upper edge of the valve seat.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a valve [41) comprising a cup-shaped member 45! having a top wall 4| and an annular skirt or flange 42. Within said cup-shaped member is a disc 43 made of metal or any other suitable material, and attached within the cup by any suitable adhesive 44. Said disc 43 is formed on the underside thereof, and adjacent the rim thereof, with an annular groove 45. Within said groove is an annular washer 45 attached thereto by a layer of adhesive 41. The washer 46 is adapted to contact the upper edge of the valve seat.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a valve [40 embodying the invention, and showing a still further modified construction. Said valve I4c comprises a cup-shaped member 53 having a top wall 5|, and an annular rim flange 52. Attached to the center of the underside of wall 5| is a screw 54, and screwed to said screw, is a disc 55 disposed within said cup-shaped member 50.

The disc 55 is formed on the underside thereof, adjacent the rim thereof, with an annular groove 56, in which is received an annular leather washer 51, attached thereto by an adhesive layer 58. The washer 56, likewise, is adapted to contact the upper rim edge of the valve seat.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A valve of the character described, comprising a cup-shaped member having a top wall,

an annular cylindrical wall, and a screw on the underside of the top wall, a disc Within said cupshaped member mounted on said screw, said disc being formed on the underside thereof, and adjacent the periphery thereof, with an annular groove, and an annular washer within said groove and adhered to the bottom of said groove.

2. A valve for the tone hole of a musical instrument of the wind type, comprising a cup shaped member having a top wall and an annular wall extending from said top wall, a screw fixed to the center of the inner surface of said top wall, a disc Within said cup shaped member having having a central screw threaded opening to receive the screw, said disc being formed on the underside thereof, and adjacent the pcriphcry thereof with a annular groove, the outer diameter of said disc being substantially equal to the inner diameter of said annular wall, and an annular flat Washer within said groove and fixed to the bottom surface of the groove, the outer diameter of said washer being substantially equal to the inner diameter of the annular wall of said cup shaped member. 7

3. A valve for the tone hole of a musical instrument of the wind type, comprising a cup shaped member having a top wall and an annular wall extending from said top wall, a screw fixed to the center of the inner surface of said top wall, a disc within said cup shaped member having a central screw threaded opening to receive the screw, said disc being formed on the underside thereof, and adjacent the periphery thereof with an annular groove, the outer diameter of said. disc being substantially equal to the inner diameter of said annular wall, and an anit nular fiat Washer within said groove and fixed to the bottom surface of the groove, the outer diameter of said washer being substantially equal to the inner diameter of the annular wall of said cup shaped member, said screw having a head fixed to said top wall, and said disc being formed with a recess to receive the head of the screw.

4. A valve for the tone hole of a musical instrument of the wind type, comprising a cup shaped member having a top wall and an annular wall extending from said top wall, a screw fixed to the center of the inner surface of said top wall, a disc within said cup shaped member having a central screw threaded opening to receive the screw, said disc being formed on the underside thereof, and adjacent the periphery thereof with an annular groove, the outer diameter of said disc being substantially equal to the inner diameter of said annular wall, and an annular fiat washer within said groove and fixed to the bottom surface of the groove, the outer diameter of said washer being substantially equal to the inner diameter of the annular wall of said cup shaped member, said screw having a head fixed to said top wall, said disc being formed with a recess to receive the head of the screw, the bottom end of the screw being substantially flush with the under-surface of said disc, and said annular wall extending beyond the undersurfaces of said disc and washer.

5. A valve for the tone hole of a musical instrument of the wind type, comprising a cup shaped member having a top wall and an annular wall extending from said top wall, a screw fixed to the center of the inner surface of said top wall, a disc within said cup shaped member having a central screw threaded opening to receive the screw, said disc being formed on the underside thereof, and adjacent the periphery thereof with an annular groove, the outer diameter of said disc being substantially equal to the inner diameter of said annular wall, and an annular fiat washer within said groove and fixed to the bottom surface of the groove, the outer diameter of said washer being substantially equal to the inner diameter of the annular wall of said cup shaped member, said screw having a head fixed to said top wall, said disc being formed with a recess to receive the head of the screw, the bottom end of the screw being substantially flush with the under-surface of said disc, and said annular wall extending beyond the undersurfaces of said disc and washer, the under-surface of said washer being substantially flush with the underside of said disc.

ALBERT PAGE. 

